This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/570115-fsb-us-citizen-espionage/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Russia launches espionage case against US citizen | Russia launches espionage case against US citizen |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The American is suspected of gathering data on “biological topics,” Russia’s Federal Security Service says | The American is suspected of gathering data on “biological topics,” Russia’s Federal Security Service says |
| A criminal case on espionage has been launched against a US citizen, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Thursday. | A criminal case on espionage has been launched against a US citizen, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Thursday. |
| “The American is suspected of collecting intelligence data on biological topics, directed against the security of Russia,” the agency said in a short statement. | “The American is suspected of collecting intelligence data on biological topics, directed against the security of Russia,” the agency said in a short statement. |
| The FSB didn’t reveal any further details about the case. | |
| Espionage charges may carry a penalty of between 10 and 20 years behind bars, according to Russian law. | Espionage charges may carry a penalty of between 10 and 20 years behind bars, according to Russian law. |
| Former US Marine Paul Whelan is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in Russia after being found guilty of espionage. He was sentenced in 2020 after being arrested two years earlier with a USB device containing sensitive information on him. | Former US Marine Paul Whelan is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in Russia after being found guilty of espionage. He was sentenced in 2020 after being arrested two years earlier with a USB device containing sensitive information on him. |
| The American’s defense claimed he was set up by the FSB and given a flash drive, on which he expected to see photos from a tourist trip. Besides his US citizenship, Whelan also holds British, Canadian, and Irish passports. | The American’s defense claimed he was set up by the FSB and given a flash drive, on which he expected to see photos from a tourist trip. Besides his US citizenship, Whelan also holds British, Canadian, and Irish passports. |